Uppsala, Sweden

[MammaBrussels]

Hi there

DH is doing a 3 week course in Uppsala in July. DS and I would like to go with him. How would I go about renting a flat/ house for that time? Does anyone have any suggestions about how DS (will be 19 months) can fill our days?

Thanks

Bumping

I'd suggest contacting Uppsala university's housing office.

Thanks Bluestocking I'll have a look with the Uni.

Uppsala has a massive, I mean seriously massive, housing shortage. Students end up sleeping on floors in church halls.

You could try Bostad Direkt (a letting agency).

Or if you're brave enough to dive into the Swedish pool you can try Blocket, which is an online small ads site. (Click on Uppsala on the right; then in the middle drop down box which says 'alla kategorier' and select 'Bostad' and 'uthyres' ('flats' and 'to rent'); then click on 'sök' (search))

Feel free to shout if you need any help with the Swedish.

Hi Kladdkaka - I noticed that the university's housing website started out by saying that Uppsala is very short of accommodation! OP, who's the provider of your husband's course, and do they provide accommodation?

Yeah, I noticed that too. Very nicely under-played by them :o

I've had another idea. You can also look for a 'stuga'. These are holiday cabins but may be a bit remote as they are often in the forest (and only accessible in the summer). Here are a couple of sites around Uppsala way:

www.stugknuten.com/resultateng.asp?lan_id=2

www.fyrishov.se/fyrishov/templates/StandardPage____4286.aspx

You will also find these cabins on a lot of camping sites, so you could search those too.

Try that again:

www.stugknuten.com/resultateng.asp?lan_id=2

www.fyrishov.se/fyrishov/templates/StandardPage____4286.aspx

Thanks for your advice. We've finally found a 2 bedroomed serviced apartment through one of the hotels. Fortunately we're going to be there outside of university term time otherwise I think we could have had real trouble.

I'm really looking forward to spending time in Sweden. Do you have any advice about things to see/try?

What time of year will you be in Swe? How long for? Do you have kids, and if so what age? Am certainly not an expert (we have been here for 18 months or so, just n of Gothenburg) but will help if I can with any appropriate advice

I'm north east of Göteborg and have never been up that end of the world. My daughter has. She says the bit she enjoyed the most was The Vasa museem in Stockholm (Swedish version of the Mary Rose).

Here's the official Uppsala tourist information website

Surroundedbyblondes how are you getting on?

Surviving, thanks! Kids love it and we live in a fab small town with lovely neighbours who have become friends. DD2 will start dagis shortly and I hope to get some kind of job then, enjoy a bit of independence and disposable income :)

Brilliant. We'll be over for most of July. DH is doing an intensive language course and I'll be able to spend my days exploring with DS. He'll be 19 months at by then and is already mental and hyperactive very energetic. I hope there are some activities we can do in Uppsala.

Sweden looks really beautiful (as do all the people there). After living in Brussels for 18 months I'm really looking forward to spending time in an efficient, friendly and logical place. I might miss the chocolate though ...

MammaBrussels, send your hubby to get his hair cut at my friend's Swedish hairdressers on Av d'Auderghem for him to practice his Swedish once he gets back!

Ha! We lived in Belgium for 15 years before coming here. I still miss the food!

Expect lots of good, healthy outdoor play will be in order for your DS. Swedes like to be out in all weathers. You get used to it . In our little town other parents are quite friendly at the swings etc. Didn't find that to be the case when we lived briefly in Gothenburg on first arriving (city mentality I guess).

Kids come first here, but tend to be well behaved. Active, energetic, but not hyped up hooligans.

Food is crappy compared to bxl and quite expensive. Quite healthy, lots of fish and salad, though hot dogs and pancakes are standard kids' lunch when eating out (fine once in a while IMO) They love their coffee and make sure you regularly have fika (afternoon coffee & cake) when out and about. Proper cake. Lots of chocolatey, cinnamoney things rather than patisserie-stuff. Yum.

Brilliant idea natation! Tak!